Trauma is the persistent emotional response following a difficult event that overwhelmed your ability to cope. Simply put, trauma is when your body holds the distress of the past and brings it into the present.
Traumatic events may include:
Sometimes trauma results from events that are big and obvious, and sometimes the traumatic effect is less obvious (bullying, a partner's affair). Trauma can result in
There are many experiences that may result in trauma, including:
- Single-incident trauma (for example, a car accident)
- Childhood abuse, mistreatment, or neglect
- Developmental trauma
- Sexual abuse and trauma
- Birth and Reproductive trauma
- Betrayal and relationship trauma
- Racial and oppressive trauma
What makes an experience traumatic?
Trauma is in the eye of the beholder. Two people can go through the exact same experience and one person might develop trauma whereas the other might not. Bottom line: If you went through something difficult and you believe it is still impacting you, you deserve to heal.
What is the difference between PTSD and trauma?
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the classification we use for people who have a particular presentation of trauma symptoms. All people who have PTSD have trauma, but not all people who have trauma have PTSD. Regardless of what we call it, your experience is valid and worthy of treatment and healing. You do not need to have a PTSD diagnosis for trauma therapy to be beneficial.
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Symptoms of Unhealed Trauma
A trauma response can include the following symptoms and experiences:
- Flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts.
- A rush of emotion and bodily sensations connected to memories. This is called a reliving experience - your body and nervous system feel like the event is happening all over again.
- Avoidance of triggers, and reminders of memories, people, places, and experiences.
- Hypervigilance which is the experience of feeling "on guard" or alert
- Sense of persistent danger and lack of safety
- Physical sensations such as upset stomach, racing heartbeat, sweating, headache, etc.
- Lack of focus, concentration, or motivation
- Feeling irritable or quick to anger
- Feeling disconnected or disengaged with life
- Self-blame or strong negative beliefs about yourself
- Feeling helpless or hopeless about your future
Trauma Informed Care
With all my clients, I take a trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive approach. This includes clients seeking therapy for other concerns beyond trauma. I acknowledge that trauma is often at the root of many mental health concerns and am extra careful to not retraumatize in therapy.
EMDR Therapy for Trauma
I am trained in EMDR Therapy, which is an effective, efficient, and evidence-based treatment for trauma and PTSD. Many research studies support the effectiveness of EMDR Therapy for Trauma.
EMDR offers a unique way of healing through traumatic experiences that is much more gentle and effective than traditional talk therapy. And it works!
I have a full page dedicated to EMDR Therapy. Click here to learn more about EMDR.
The single most important issue for traumatized people is to find a sense of safety in their own bodies. -Bessel van der Kolk
Hopeful Horizons
Holding Hope for a Better Tomorrow
You deserve to heal from your past trauma!
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